The Challenge
When MEVPAC, the innovative Louisville-based creator of the Mobile Electric Vehicle Power Access Container, sought to deploy its groundbreaking critical-infrastructure power node, it faced a key hurdle: securing formal local government endorsement.
The MEVPAC system — a versatile, mobile unit that delivers on-demand energy for EV charging while serving as a reliable emergency power source — promised significant benefits for communities, including enhanced grid resilience and support for sustainable transportation.
As the adage goes, “all politics is local.” Shepherd Strategies understands this principle deeply and excels at translating it into results.
A premier government consulting firm with proven strength delivering outcomes at the federal, state, and local levels, Shepherd’s team swiftly developed a targeted advocacy strategy focused on the county’s fiscal court. Shepherd crafted compelling materials that highlighted the project’s dual-use value: serving as critical infrastructure during outages while advancing EV adoption and economic development goals.
Leveraging deep relationships and a results-driven approach across all levels of government, the Shepherd team provided MEVPAC with valuable feedback on shifting its focus to critical infrastructure, thereby broadening the project’s appeal. Ben Morris from the Shepherd team traveled with Charlie Waugh, founder of MEVPAC, to Bedford, Kentucky, to present the idea to the Trimble County Fiscal Court. Shepherd’s strategic guidance helped MEVPAC present a unified, data-backed case that resonated with fiscal court priorities around infrastructure resilience, emergency preparedness, and forward-looking community investments.
The Fiscal Court unanimously approved issuing a strong letter of support.
This letter is a critical milestone — serving as essential documentation required by state and federal grant programs. It demonstrates strong local buy-in and alignment with community priorities, significantly strengthening MEVPAC’s funding applications to deploy the power nodes. With the letter in hand, MEVPAC is now well-positioned to secure the grant money needed to bring this innovative infrastructure to the local community, accelerating deployment and delivering lasting public benefits.
Building on this momentum, Shepherd Strategies will continue partnering with MEVPAC to replicate these results across states around the U.S. By applying proven strategies — from localized advocacy campaigns and securing government letters of support to navigating multi-level grant opportunities and building stakeholder coalitions — the team is poised to help MEVPAC expand its critical infrastructure solutions nationwide.
“Shepherd Strategies turned policy complexity into momentum,” noted MEVPAC founder Charlie Waugh. “Their expertise across federal, state, and local levels helped us secure the local backing we needed — and the key letter that unlocks grant funding — to bring this game-changing technology to the community. We look forward to scaling this success together across the country.”
Charlie Waugh · Founder, MEVPAC
This success underscores Shepherd Strategies’ ability to deliver tangible wins at the intersection of innovation, policy, and public impact — defining, driving, and delivering results for clients like MEVPAC at every level of government.
© 2026 Shepherd Strategies LLC.
All Rights Reserved.
